Spathyphyllum plant &#34;Jeanene&#34;

ABSTRACT

A variety of spathyphyllum plant having good wintertime greenish yellow overall appearance somewhat darker than prior spathyphyllum plants, the leaves being of thick elliptical shape with width about half that of the length, the plant having very good keeping qualities with resistance to cold weather, bruising and low nutrient levels without tip burn, attractive ovate blooms, and erect habit with stiff petioles.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As a foliage plant grower, I have had a number of opportunities toobserve various varieties of plants growing in my greenhouse in the areaof Brooksville, Fla. and among a number of them which attracted myattention as a seedling was a spathyphyllum plant which was particularlynoticeable because even as a relatively small plant eight inches high,it displayed dark green oval leaves and a compact growth which seemed tome to be desirable in a commercial plant. In addition its wintertimecolor which is a decided green was of interest and I therefore selectedthis specific seedling for further work and reproduction. I now identifythe same as "Jeanene" which appears to be a cross of a noncommercialvariety which I have had in my greenhouse and which is designatedMaunaloa "Leslie".

I believe that the variety of my invention is a cross of the aforesaidplant and Floribunda×Tasson.

It is my opinion that the color of this plant is new to the small sizeof spathyphyllum and as such is attractive from the standpoint of theultimate consumer.

The leaves of the plant in their green color are also thick, elipticaland have been found to be very resistant to cool weather chloroplastdegradation.

I have caused this plant to be asexually reproduced by availing oflateral shoots and am currently further reproducing the same by tissueculture and testing the same in my nursery.

Further observations of this plant have convinced me that it has verygood keeping qualities and as such is a desirable commercial ornamental.The fact that the leaves are thicker than usual enables them to resistbruising and thus the shipping damage is very much reduced.

The characteristic of this plant as far as the leaves are concerned isthat they are eliptical and it is noted that the blooms which are shownin the drawing are substantially ovate, the leaves having very deepundulations on mature leaves. This is a further distinction which setsthe plant apart from other varieties of spathyphyllum.

The relative size of the leaves is such that they are about fifty-fivepercent as wide as they are long and this seems to be a characteristicwhich is continuing to be noted in reproduced plants.

The plant form itself appears to be erect and open with stiff petioles.

Further important improvements which this variety of spathyphyllum seemsto carry, are the ability to remain green even during cold weather andwithstand excessive and inadequate nutrient levels without tip burn orpaleness. The ability to tolerate low light levels is a valuableattribute likewise.

Attached to this application and a part thereof, is the drawing whichillustrates a plant of my new variety and it is disclosed in color whichis as nearly representative of the color which is a primarycharacteristic as is possible to make the same in an illustration ofthis kind and to reproduce it for study. It should be noted andattention is called to the fact that the light reflection on the leavesalso causes a variation in color from that which might be observed underother circumstances. This reproduction is however very representativeand provides the overall appearance which a plant of my new varietydisplays generally.

There follows a detailed description of my new variety with colorterminology in accordance with the Munsell Color Chart published byMunsell Color Company, Inc. and known as the Nickerson Color Fan, exceptwhere general color terms of ordinary significance may be applicable andare made by me personally, therefore being subject to my own judgmentand evaluation as to color comparisons which I nevertheless believe tobe accurate and when compared with the color chart clearly descriptiveof my variety.

FORM CHARACTERISTICS

1. Leaf shape:

a. Mature.--Elliptic.

b. Immature.--Elliptic.

c. Tip.--Acute.

d. Base.--(1) Mature: Cordate. (2) Immature: Cordate.

e. Veination.--Heavily sunken.

2. Leaf attachment: Stalked.

3. Leaf arrangement: Alternate; horizontal.

4. Petiole: Medium length; winged; erect.

5. Stem: Short; heavy internodes; about one inch spacing.

6. Overall appearance: Medium dense to open.

SIZE CHARACTERISTICS OF TYPICAL COMMERCIAL SIZE IN 14" POTS

1. Leaf itself:

a. Width-widest point.--Nine inches.

b. Width-1" from tip.--2".

c. Length.--16".

2. Petiole:

a. Length.--131/2".

b. Diameter (center).--3/8-1/2.

c. Internode spacing.--3/4 to 1".

d. Stem diameter.--2".

3. Bloom:

a. Length.--9".

b. Width.--6".

c. Color.--White.

COLOR CHARACTERISTICS

1. Leaf:

a. Top (new leaves).--7.5GY 7/9.

b. Bottom overlay.--7.5GY 8/7.

c. Margin.--7.5GY 8/7.

2. Leaf (old bottom leaves):

a. Top.--5GY 3/2.

b. Bottom.--7GY 4/4.

c. Margin.--7GY 4/4.

3. Leaf veination (underside):

a. Midrib.--7.5 GY 7/9.

b. Veins.--7.5 GY 7/9.

4. Stem: 5GY 4/3.

5. Petiole: 5GY 4/3.

6. Bloom: White.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of spathyphyllum plant,substantially as herein shown and described, characterized particularlyas to novelty by the unique combination of overall good winter colorwith greenish yellow upper surface of new leaves to greenish yellowsurface of more mature leaves, good keeping qualities, the thickelliptic leaves being resistant to bruising with deep undulations aswell as to cool weather chloroplast degradation, the plant as a wholebeing erect, with stiff petioles.